Page 13 of The Sniper

Deciding to wait for Daniels outside and avoid having Julius see her, Reyna stepped out into the chill of the night air outside theVelvet Glove, the frigid air biting against her skin as she pulled her leather jacket tighter around her. The steady thrum of bass from inside the club still hummed in her chest, but the relative silence outside felt like a relief. The red glow of the neon sign reflected off the wet pavement, casting an eerie sheen as she made her way to where she’d parked her SUV.

Her heels clicked against the sidewalk, each step calculated and deliberate. Years of training had taught her to keep her pace casual, her posture relaxed, even when her senses were screaming at her to stay alert. And they were screaming now.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, a familiar prickling sensation crawling over her skin. She wasn’t alone. Someone was following her.

Reyna didn’t stop walking, didn’t turn her head. Instead, she reached into her pocket, pretending to check her phone as her fingers brushed the cool metal of the knife she alwayscarried. Her eyes darted to the darkened storefronts around her, searching for reflections, movement, anything that would confirm what her instincts already knew.

The phone in her pocket vibrated. She pulled it out, the screen lighting up with Daniels’ name. For a split second, she considered ignoring it, but her thumb swiped the screen before she could stop herself.

“Daniels,” she said, keeping her voice low and even.

“Where are you?” His voice was sharp. He wasn’t in the mood for games.

“Just left the club,” she replied, her eyes scanning the shadows around her. “Something tells me I’m not alone.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line, just long enough for her to imagine his jaw tightening, his brow furrowing the way they always did when he was pissed. “Where’s your vehicle?”

“Two blocks up,” she said. Her hand tightened around the knife in her pocket as she felt a flicker of movement in her peripheral vision. “I can handle it.”

“That wasn’t the question, Reyna,” Daniels said, his tone dropping into that commanding register that always set her on edge. “Get to your SUV. Now.”

Reyna allowed herself to laugh a small, dry laugh. “You don’t give me orders, Daniels.”

“Reyna,” he growled, the sound of her name on his lips sending an entirely different kind of shiver through her. “I mean it. Get in the vehicle, lock the doors, and wait for me. I’m five minutes out.”

“Five minutes is a long time,” she said, glancing behind her. The street was empty, but she knew better than to trust appearances. “A lot can happen.”

“Not if you listen for once,” Daniels shot back. “And don’t argue with me. I know you’re carrying. Use it if you have to. Iswear to God if you don’t do exactly what I tell you, I’ll give you a spanking you won’t forget any time soon.”

Her lips curled into a slight grin despite the knot coiling in her chest. “I don’t do impact play.”

“Bullshit. Get in the damn vehicle.”

“Aww… you sound like you care. You’re awfully protective of me, aren’t you?”

“Reyna,” Daniels said, his tone low and warning. “This isn’t a game.”

“Good,” she replied, slipping the knife out of her pocket and letting it rest against her thigh. “Because I’m not playing.”

She ended the call before he could respond, slipping the phone back into her jacket as she crossed the street. The dim light from a streetlamp flickered and then went dark; the sound of her footsteps echoed against the buildings around her. She could feel them now—two of them, trailing behind her at a safe distance. Professional. Calculating.

Reyna’s pulse quickened, adrenaline sharpening her senses. She slowed her pace just slightly, giving them time to close the gap. She wanted them closer. Needed them closer.

Her hand tightened around the knife as she reached the mouth of an alley. She stopped, turning slightly to glance back over her shoulder. The street behind her was empty, but she knew better than to trust what she saw. They were there. She could feel them.

“If you want to make a move,” she muttered under her breath, “now’s your chance.”

The first attack came fast—a shadow breaking off from the darkness to her left. Reyna spun, her knife slashing through the air as she narrowly avoided the swing of a crowbar aimed at her head. The clang of metal against the brick wall sent a sharp ring through the air, and her attacker swore, recovering quickly as he came at her again.

The second man was on her before she could counter, his arm locking around her throat as he tried to drag her back into the alley. Reyna lashed out, driving her elbow into his ribs with enough force to make him grunt in pain. She twisted, her knife catching the light as she slashed it across his forearm, forcing him to release her.

“Cute,” she hissed, her breath coming fast as she squared off with both men. “But you’re going to need a lot more than that.”

The one with the crowbar grinned, blood dripping from a split lip. “Feisty. I like that.”

“You won’t,” Reyna shot back, her voice sharp and cold. “Not when I’m done with you.”

The first man lunged again, the crowbar swinging in a wide arc. Reyna ducked, her movements fluid as she stepped inside his guard, her knife flashing up to slice across his chest. He stumbled back, cursing, but the second man was already moving, his fists swinging toward her face.

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